By DTN Staff
OMAHA (DTN) -- Here are the Top 5 things the DTN Newsroom is tracking for the week of Dec. 15. Watch for coverage of these and other topics through the week on our subscription platforms as well as on on www.DTNPF.com.
Note that all report release times are Central Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
1. Farm bill struggles: We'll closely track the ongoing farm bill discussions, which now are tied up in the how much and where from for a new round of farm income support. The lack of agreement is intensified by a looming Dec. 20 government funding deadline. For the latest on the struggle, and reaction by farm groups, see the Dec. 14 stories https://www.dtnpf.com/… and check Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton's blog for ongoing updates at https://www.dtnpf.com/….
2. Warmer, wetter air moves in: Weather systems are bringing warmer air across much of the country, producing some scattered showers and a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow. This triggered some very ice roads and an ice storm warning in parts of the Midwest on the weekend, especially in Iowa. We'll see several systems move through during the week, followed by another brief shot of cold air late in the week.
3. Fed funds rate reveal: On Dec. 18 we'll await the latest decision on Federal Reserve interest rates, followed by the first post-election press conference by Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
4. Our Top 10 for 2024: We'll kick off our annual review of issues that had the most influence on agriculture in the past year and what became the Top 10 Ag News stories of the year. From bin-busting yields, to a range of issues holding down the U.S. cattle herd expansion, to the political dramas of a presidential election year, we'll tee up what the DTN newsroom feels were the big stories of 2025. Watch for stories throughout the coming weeks.
5. Economic reports to watch: Monday, at 8:45 a.m. there is the S&P Flash Services PMI and Manufacturing PMI. At 10 a.m. is the weekly Grain Inspections updates, then the 2 p.m. release of Livestock Slaughter and Poultry Outlook and numbers from the Census of Agriculture. Tuesday U.S. Retail Sales numbers are out at 7:30 a.m., followed by 8:15 a.m. release of Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization at 9 a.m. the Homebuilder Confidence Index comes out. Wednesday starts with 7:30 a.m. release of Housing Starts and Building Permits, then at 9:30 a.m. EIA's Weekly Petroleum report and ethanol production. At 1 p.m. we'll get the highly anticipated Fed decision on interest rates, followed by the press conference of Jerome Powell. At 2 p.m., Broiler Hatchery numbers are out. Thursday, at 7:30 a.m. we'll see Grain Export Sales and Initial Jobless Claims, plus GDP numbers for the third quarter. At 9 a.m. Existing Home Sales and U.S. Leading Economic Indicators are revealed. Friday we'll see Personal Income and Spending and the PCE Index at 7:30 a.m. At 9 a.m. there's Consumer Sentiment numbers and at 2 p.m. the latest Cattle on Feed and Chicken and Eggs report.
Bonus DTN content: DTN Staff Reporter Russ Quinn will kick off this week on DTNPF.com his annual Global Fertilizer Outlook special series. He will cover the supply, demand and price outlook for nitrogen, phosphorous and potash fertilizers, and what is internationally influencing this valuable input for farmers. Reporter's Notebook Host Elaine Shein interviewed Quinn about the series and what he found out about the fertilizer outlook for 2025. You can watch the video at https://www.dtnpf.com/….
There are also two great podcasts you won't want to miss, on markets and weather.
The December World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report dropped Dec. 11, and this usually quiet report brought with it unexpectedly bullish news for corn markets. As markets and the USDA turn their attention towards the crop in the Southern Hemisphere and demand from around the world, U.S. crops are getting a boost. In the Field Posts podcast called "December WASDE Rocks Expectations," hosted by Sarah Mock, DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery guides us through the latest on the report, taking us right down the balance sheet to get the latest updates on demand and ending stocks, as well as the crop production report. He digs into the expectations for adjustments and why the market got a bit of a surprise from the report, and what these changes might mean for the much more substantial version due out next month. He also talks about changes on the world balance sheet and the most recent basis updates to understand both the most local and the global impacts of USDA's most recent forecasts. And, he talks about Latin American weather, the emerging export picture, and what Russian grain marketing decisions might mean for US wheat growers.
A second recent podcast may also grab your attention: "Ag Weather 2025 Forecast," has DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick tackle the uncertain weather picture this year. Without a strong La Nina/El Nino influence, John and his team have tapped a number of other indicators to give growers insights on what to expect this winter throughout the country, and in critical regions overseas like Brazil and Argentina. He takes us step-by-step through the possible impacts of tropical storms, polar vortexes, and analyzes the likelihood of wet planting conditions.
Then he looks deep into his crystal ball to forecast possibilities for the 2025 crop season and offers his advice on unpredictability in the year ahead.
You can listen to these two and other Field Posts podcasts at https://www.dtnpf.com/…, https://www.buzzsprout.com/… and they're also available on podcast hosting sites such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Watch for the latest news at www.dtnpf.com, and follow and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dtnprogressivefarmer. You can find our news on Instagram as well. Give us a follow @dtn.agnews
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